Blog Archives

The stress of the movable Sabbath

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Alan Rudnick — No Comments ↓

Someone at church once asked me, “When is your day off?” I replied, “Friday.” “Wow.” He said. “I wish I could have Friday’s off. Must be nice.” “Well, I don’t get many Sundays off. That must be nice to have…

Tagged with: Alan Rudnick, Christianity, Church, churches, congregation, Facebook, Formation, leadership, ministry, Relationships, Sabbath, Sabbath rest, spiritual formation, Spiritual Practice, stress', Sunday, worship
Posted in Health & Wholeness, Leadership, Mental Health, Spiritual Formation

Church uses vandalism as social media message

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Alan Rudnick — No Comments ↓

What do church leaders usually do when someone vandalizes the side of a church with graffiti? Cover it up, repaint, or remove the vandalism. A church in Randolph, New York was recently vandalized with the words, “Can I still get into heaven…

Tagged with: Alan Rudnick, Church, churches, community, congregation, congregations, Jesus, leadership, social media, social media churches, Spirituality
Posted in Ministry, Religion, Social Issues, Spiritual Formation, Technology & Church

Is giving an offering — as an expression of worship — dying?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by George Bullard — No Comments ↓

With online giving through a congregation’s web site, or texting a contribution, or bank drafts, or offering boxes in a corner of the worship space or narthex, or discouraging visitors from giving an offering at seeker services, or giving through…

Tagged with: Apple, Christian, Church, churches, congregation, Congregatons, financial advisor, generation, generosity, George Bullard, iPhone, offering, Scripture, stewardship, Sunday School, tithe, tithing, Triune God, worship
Posted in Blog Posts, Church Finance, Ministry, Spiritual Formation

My marriage fell apart the day the dog died

Posted on May 22, 2013 by George Bullard — 1 Comment ↓

I am sure you’ve heard the old adage that married life begins again when the last child leaves home and the dog dies. Frequently I also hear people say they moved to a new house without a forwarding address so…

Tagged with: camper, Children, Church, churches, Club Sandwich Generation, congregation, congregations, dog, empty nest, empty nesters, family, George Bullard, grandchildren, household, households, husband, Marriage, parents, Sunday, timeshare, wife
Posted in Blog Posts, Generational Differences, Marriage, Ministry, Parenting

Don’t call your next pastor. Draft your next pastor.

Posted on May 1, 2013 by George Bullard — 2 Comments ↓

The pastor search process might be a whole lot more fun (or funny) if it was run like the National Football League draft. Why go through months—even years—of searching for the right pastor when you just need to be ready…

Tagged with: Church, churches, congregation, congregations, free agent, George Bullard, Methodist, narthex, National Football League, NFL, novel, organ, organist, pastor, pews, pulpit, Seminary, staff, Tim Tebow, United Methodist Church
Posted in Blog Posts, Humor, Leadership, Sports

Grandma’s never coming back

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Carra Hughes Greer — No Comments ↓

Each time I returned to my grandparents’ home, I felt like I needed an arsenal of anxiety medications to get me through the feelings of emptiness, sadness and yearning for what used to be. My grandmother’s home was exactly as…

Tagged with: Church, church growth, Grief, institutional, new generation, tradition
Posted in Church growth, Church Starts, Generational Differences, Ministry, Worship

Why Pope Francis is good for Christianity

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Alan Rudnick — No Comments ↓

As Pope Francis starts his papacy, it is very clear that his leadership will set a very different tone for the Catholic Church. Upon leaving Rome, Pope Francis paid for his own room, rejected lavish apparel, and referred to himself more as…

Tagged with: Alan Rudnick, Christianity, Christians, Church, churches, congregation, congregations, dialogue, faith, Jesus Christ, leadership, Pope Francis
Posted in Ecumenical Leaders, Leadership

Since it is not 1965, we have to do church different

Posted on April 10, 2013 by George Bullard — 2 Comments ↓

[This is the second blog post in a series. The first was "Since it is not 1955, we have to do church different" found at http://www.abpnews.com/blog/generational-differences/since-it-is-not-1955-we-have-to-do-church-different-2013-03-28/#.UWVSpsph7s4.] On Sunday night February 9, 1964 the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show…

Tagged with: african-american, anglo-american, asian-american, Baby Bommers, Baby Busters, Beatles, Church, churches, congregation, congregations, denominational, denominations, hispanic-american, John F. Kennedy, multi-generational, multi-racial, North America, Protestantism, sexual revolution, suburbanization, The Ed Sullivan Show
Posted in Blog Posts, Church growth, Generational Differences, Leadership, Ministry

A graceless gospel

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Tom Ogburn — No Comments ↓

The moment started innocently enough. I was walking with my wife through an exhibition hall at the Oklahoma State Fair. We were on a date just enjoying our time together. Then a stranger raised his voice from his rather sad…

Tagged with: Christ, Church, Gospel, Grace, heaven, hell, religion, salvation
Posted in Ministry, Missiology, Religion

When ‘religious’ isn’t religious

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Alan Rudnick — 1 Comment ↓

As I started my daily read of newspapers, I was shocked (well, disappointed) to learn that our region was one of the least religious regions in America. A new Gallup poll found that, “Only 26 percent of those surveyed in…

Tagged with: Alan Rudnick, Christianity, Church, churches, congregation, faith, missional, Relationships, religion, religious, religious nones, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality
Posted in Religion

Strangers among us

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Bob Burroughs — No Comments ↓

Most churches can, and should, do a better job of making sure that visitors feel welcome. Where were these words spoken? 1. “Greetings! How are you today?” 2. “Hello! I’m so very pleased you are with us today. How can…

Tagged with: Church, Hospitality, stranger, visitors, welcome
Posted in Leadership, Ministry, Worship

Since it is not 1955, we have to do church different

Posted on March 28, 2013 by George Bullard — 1 Comment ↓

One of my favorite expressions by a key mentor in my life, Lyle Schaller, relates to what time it is. During the 1990s Lyle often said, as an example, “Next year is 1995. The trouble is that too many congregations…

Tagged with: 1950s, attendance, Church, churches, congregation, congregations, empty nest, empty nesters, George Bullard, Kennon Callahan, Lyle Schaller, mentor, singles, singles again, target groups, worship, Worship Attendance
Posted in Blog Posts, Generational Differences, Ministry

Naked church

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Julie Pennington-Russell — No Comments ↓

Dear Church: if you bring good news to your community you won’t need to inform your neighbors. They already know. If you don’t—well, chances are everybody knows but you. Let’s get down to it: a church is either welcome relief…

Tagged with: Baptist, Christianity, Church, community, congregation, God, Jesus, social media
Posted in Blog Posts, Humor, Leadership, Ministry, Technology & Church